The Jamaica government has indicated it will spend nearly one billion dollars (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents) to fund a national mitigation, sanitation, drain-cleaning and beautification program ahead of the Christmas season.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the J$997 million project will be implemented by the National Works Agency (NWA) and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).
J$12 million per constituency
He said the program will be driven by Members of Parliament (MPs) and that each constituency will be allocated J$12 million to target critical drains, road patching, cleaning, de-bushing and sanitation.
Holness said six million dollars “will be directed by MPs, so (they) will make recommendations to the NWA as to the roads that should be bushed, the roads that can be patched and the areas that will be cleaned or bulky waste removed or the drains that will be cleaned.
Work to be verified
“Ultimately, it is the NWA that will go and measure the work, price it and eventually implement it. They may use a contractor or they may do it directly, and at the end of the day, we have asked the Integrity Commission to assist us in verifying the work. I could not announce a $997-million program without at the same time ensuring… a high level of accountability,” he added.
Holness told legislators Tuesday that the allocation for general cleanup is being provided by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, while the government will finance the remainder.
J$100 to remove waste and for beautification projects
Additionally, the NSWMA is being allocated J$100 million for the removal of bulky waste in townships across the country. The funds are also to be used to assist in implementing a beautification project in these areas.
Prime Minister Holness said consultations will begin this week with MPs urging them to begin putting their work programs together.
November 19 commencement
“Work will commence on the 19th of November. We expect that work should be completed by the 7th of December. Measurement and certification of completed work would then start by the 11th of December and we intend to be paying on the 13th and 14th of December. That is the timeline,” Holness said.
He said he wanted all legislators to fully cooperate in the program to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
“You cannot deliver your program late and expect to get paid for your constituents on time. So we are urging Members of Parliament to follow the program diligently,” he said.
